Sewing machine



July 21, 1931. B. T. LEVEQUE 1,815,307

SEWING MACHINE Original Filed April 26, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet '1 1% fl!" o a? a0 10 I .15 v 110 5:: a0 a July 21, 1931. a. 'r. LEVEQUE 1,815,307

SEWING MACHINE Origigal Filed April 26, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 B. T; LEVEQUE SEWING MACHINE July 21, 1931.

Original Filed April 26, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 21, 1931 run 5 unto STATES.

PATENT OFFIQE BERNARD T. LEV EQTL E, OF WENHAII, BIASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 UNITED SHOE ZYIAGHENERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON', NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY SEWING MACHINE original application filed April 26, 1923, Serial No. 634,751.

Renewed October 15, 1930.

1927. Serial No. 201,171.

The present invention relates to sewing machines, and more particularly to thread cutting devices for such machines, and is herein shown as embodied in a lockstit-ch wax thread sewing machine adapted for stitching the outsoles of shoes.

The object of the present invention is to provide a thread cutting or thread cutting and holding device of simplified and improved construction, which is especially adapted for use in a lockstitch outsole shoe sewing machine.

One feature of this inventionconsists in providing a thread cutting or thread cutting and holding device which will work automatically to cut or cut and hold the thread at the end of a stitching operation, but which maybe made inoperative at the will of the operator until such a time as he desires.

Another feature of the invention consists in providing a thread cutting or thread cutting and holding device which will operate automatically to cut or cut and hold the thread or which may be operated manually. Other features of the invention consist in devices, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The several features of the present invention and the advantages attained thereby will be readily understood by those skilled in the art from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention as embodied in an outsole lockstitch wax thread shoe sewing machine.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of so much of the machine as is necessary to show the connection of the invention therewith; Fig. 2 is a detail plan view illustrating particularly the shuttle thread cutting mechanism; Fig. 3 is a similar view on a somewhat larger scale with the presser foot removed to disclose the needle thread cutting mechanism; Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation showing the thread cutting devices; Fig. 5 is a detailed plan view of part of the clutch and driving mechanism; Fig. 6 is a detailed sectional view on line 6, Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a detailed sectional view on the line 7 of Fig. 6.

Divided and this application filed June 24,

race bracket indicated at 20, together with a combined take-up and pull ofi, and a thread tension and lock not here shown. These instrumentalities are mounted in the machine head 22 which is carried or formed on the up'- per end of the casting 24. v

The machine is provided with mechanism which, upon the release of the treadle by the operator, acts automatically to bring the machine to rest with the needle retracted and the parts in position for the removal of the shoe and is also provided with mechanism which acts automatically to sever the needle and locking threads and to hold these threads for the startin of the succeeding scam. I

The driving and stopping mechanism of the machine consists of afriction clutch, the driving member 26 of which is loosely mounted .on a shaft 28. The driven member 29 of the clutch is keyed to rotate with and slide on the driving shaft and is moved toward and from the driving member through a sleeve'30 surrounding the hub of the clutch member and connected therewith by .a heavy coiled spring 32. The sleeve is provided with anannula-r groove near its outer end engaged by rolls in the yoke-shaped upper end of a bell crank lever 34, the horizontal arm of which is arranged to be engaged by a collar 36 secured to the upper end of a rod 38, the lower end of which is connected to the treadle 40. The stop mechanism comprises a stop roll 42 carried by the end of a braking and stopping lever 44 and arranged to engage a spiral cam groove 46 formed in the periphery of the clutch sleeve 30. WVhen the machine is in stopped position the abutment 48 on the clutch sleeve formed by the end of the groove engages the stop roll.42, and a locking roll 50 on the end of the lever also engages a locking recess 52 formed in a flange on the sleeve and locks the shaft in stopped position. The lever M; is mounted to swing horizontally about a vertical stud 54 and is forced by' a heavy coiled spring 56 in a direction to move the stop roll 42 toward the left in Figs. 5 and 7. The stud 54: is secured in a support 58 formed on the outer end of a rock shaft 60 which is forced by a heavy coiled spring 62 in a direction to en gage the stop roll with the groove in the clutch sleeve. The lever is rocked vertically to disengage the stop roll from the groove in the clutch sleeve through a link 64 connee-ting the collar 36 at the upperend of the treadle rod .88 with the outer end of the lever.

W hen the treadle is depressed in starting the machine the lever is rocked to disengage the stop roll from the clutch sleeve by the initial downward movement of the treadle and then the collar 86 engages the bell crank lever 34 and continued downward movement and pressure on the treadle engages the driven clut h member with the driving clutch member, the speed of the machine being regulated by varying the pressure on the treadle. When the treadle is released the stop roll rides on the periphery of the clutch sleeve 30 until it enters the groove &6 and then during the continued rotation of the driving shaft the groove acting on the stop roll will first tend to complete the disengagement of the clutch members and thereafter to swing the rear end of the lever toward the right against the braking effect of the heavy spring 56. As the end of the cam groove approaches the stop roll the locking roll 50 will ride up the surface of the flange leading to the recess 52, thus increasing the braking eflect upon the driving shaft immediately preceding the final stopping of the shaft. As the end of the groove engages the stop roll the forward rotation of the clutch sleeve 30 is arrested and the spring 32 will yield to cushion the blow, the locking roll 50 entering the recess 52 to prevent rebound of the sleeve and thus insuring the final stopping of the shaft and the parts connected therewith in a definite position.

lhe mechanism for severing and holding the thread at the completion of the sewing consists of a thread cutter and holder mounted in the presser foot and operating to sever and hold the shuttle or locking thread close to the upper side of the work, and a thread cutter and holder mounted in the work support to sever and hold the needle thread close to the underside of the work. These cutters and holders are operated automatically at the completion of the sewing through mechanism which may be rendered active or inactive at the will of the operator so that the threads may be severed and held automatically in stopping the machine at the completion of the sewing or the machine may be stopped without severing the threads if for any reason it is desirable to do so. Means is also provided by which the operator may manually operate the thread cutters and holders whenever it is desirable to do so as, for instance, after threading up themachine and before starting a new seam or in case the machine has been stopped without automatically severing and holding the threads.

As shown the device for cutting and holdin the locking thread comprises a severing and holding blade 66 mounted to swing and slide in the presser foot between a lower severing plate 68 and an upper gripping plate 70 located at one side of the slot 72 through which the needle passes (Figs. 2, 3 and l). The blade is provided at its rear end with a pivot stud 74 passing up through a slot 76 in the presser foot and provided at its upper end with an arm 7 8 which is connected by a link 80 and universal j oints to one arm. of a bell crank lever 82 on the upper end of a rock shaft 84. The blade and stud are frictionally held from movement endwise of the slot by a spring 86 and friction washer 88. A similar cutting and holding blade 90 is mounted in a similar manner in the work support 8 to pass between an upper severing plate 92' and a lower gripping plate 941 located at one side of the needle slots 96. The arm 98 on the end of the pivot stud of this blade is connectedby a link 100 with an arm 102 on the lower end of the rock shaft 84.

To operate the thread. cutting and holding blades the rock shaft 84 is oscillated to first swing the free ends of the blades into position back of the needle path, to then slide the blades toward the right until the free ends are at the right of the needle path, then swing the free ends of the blades forward across the needle slots, and finally slide the blades toward the left to carry the threads between the. cutting and gripping plates. The swinging movements of the blades in either'direction are limited by stops 104 and 106 (Fig. 3) arranged to engage shoulders on the link 100 or universal joint at the right of the link 80 and by their engagement to cause the blade to slide in the work support and presser foot during the continued movement of the link or universal joint.

The shaft 84L may be automatically oscillated at 'the completion of the sewing through a link 108 connecting the bell. crank lever 82 with an arm 110 connected with the upper end of a vertical rock shaft 112. A coiled spring 114 is-connected with a collar 116 near the lower end of the shaft and tends to rock the shaft in a direction to draw the cutter blades into position between the cutting and gripping blades. An arm 118 is secured to the lower end of the shaft and is provided with a cam projection 120 adapted to be operated upon by a pin 122 on the braking and stopping lever 44 when said lever is swung about its vertical pivot by the stopping cam groove in the clutch sleeve as heretofore described. When this lever is rocked vertically in starting the machine the pin 122 is swung down below the arm 118 and the horizontal swinging movement of the lever at this time carries the pin to the right of the cam projection 120 in Fig. 5 so that When the lever is swung in stopping the machine the pin engages the cam projection and rocks the shaft 112 against the tension of the spring 114 to retract the thread cutting blades and move them to the right, after which the pin passes beyond the cam projection so that the spring 114 quickly swings the cutters forward and draws them between the cutting and clamping plates.

The means by which the operator may render the mechanism for automatically actuating the thread cutters and holders active or inactive at will comprises a coupling lever 124 which is pivoted to the upper end of the rock shaft 112 and is arranged to engage a slot 126 formed in the upper edge of the hub of arm 110 which is loosely mounted on the upper end of the shaft. When the lever 124 is swung down into engagement with the slot in the hub of arm 110 the arm is connected with the rock shaft 112 and the thread cutters and holders are automatically oper ated in stopping the machine. If the lever 124 is swung upward into a vertical position it no longer engages the slot in the hub of arm 110 and the shaft 112 will, therefore, be oscillated idly upon stopping the machine without actuating the thread cutters and holders. The means for manually operating the thread cutters and holders comprises a handle 128 formed on the bell crank lever 82 and within convenient reach of the operator. By manipulation of this handle the rock shaft 84 may be manually rocked to operate the thread cutters and holders as desired.

While it is preferred to employ the specific construction and arrangement of parts shown and described in embodying the invention in a lockstitch outsole sewing machine, it will be understood that this construction and arrangement is not essential to the broader features of the invention and may be varied or modified as found desirable or best suited to the construction and mode of operation of the machine in which it is to be embodied.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism, stop mechanism under the control of the operator for stopping the machine at will with the parts in a predetermined position. a thread cutter, mechanism for automatically actuating the cutter upon stopping the machine, and means under the control of the operator for renderingsaid automatic mechanism inactive to cut the thread upon the stopping of the machine by said stop mechanism.

2. A sewing machine having, in combina tion, stitch forming mechanism, stop mechanism under the control of the operator for stopping the machine at will with the parts in a predetermined position, a thread cutter and holder, mechanism for automatically actuating the cutter and holder upon stopping the machine to cut and hold the thread, and means under the control of the operator for rendering said automatic mechanism inactive to cut and hold the thread upon the stopping of the machine by said stop mechanism.

.3. A sewing machine having, in combinat-ion, stitch forming mechanism including a hook needle, a l-ooper for laying the thread in the hook .of.the needle and locking thread mechanism, means acting automatically upon stopping the machine to sever the needle and locking threads, and means under the control of the operator for rendering said automatic means active or inactive to sever the threads.

4. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism including a hook needle, a looper for laying the thread in the hook of the needle and locking thread mechanism, means acting automatically upon stopping the machine to sever and hold the needle and locking threads, and means under the control of the operator for rendering such automatic means either active or inactive to sever and hold the threads.

5. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch formingmechanism, a thread cut ter and mechanism which may be set by the operator either to automatically cut the thread or to avoid cutting the thread upon stopping the machine, and means for manually operating the cutter.

6. A sewing machine havmg, 1n comblna- -tion,.-st1tch forming mechanism, a thread cutter and holder, mechanism which may be set by the operator either to automatically cut and hold the thread or to avoid cutting and holding the thread on stopping the machine, and means for manually operating the cutter and holder.

7. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism, a thread cutter, mechanism for automatically actuating the cutter upon stopping the machine to sever the thread, and means for manually operating the cutter before starting the machine.

8. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism including a hook needle, a looper for laying the thread in the hook of the needle and locking thread mechanism, thread cutters for severing the needleandlock-ingthreads,mechanism for automatically actuating said cutters upon stopping the machine, means under the control of the operator for rendering said automatic mechanism either active or inactive, and means for manually operating the cutters.

9. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism including a hook needle, a looper for laying thread in the hook of the needle, and locking thread mechanism, devices acting automatically upon stopping the machine to sever and hold the needle and locking threads, means under the control of the operator for rendering said automatic devices active or inactive, and means for manually operating said thread severing and holding devices.

10. An out-sole shoe sewing machine having, an combination, a work support and presser foot constructed and arranged to receive between them the projecting edge of the sole of a shoe, sewing mechanism constructed and arranged to sew the outseam of said shoe, a thread cutter carried by the presser foot, and means for automatically actuating the cutter at the completion of the outseam.

11. An cutsole shoe sewing machine having, in combination, a work support and presser foot constructed and arranged to receive between them the projecting edge of the sole of a shoe, sewing mechanism constructed and arranged to sew the outseam of said shoe, a thread cutter and holder carried by the presser foot, and means for automatically actuating the cutter and holder at the completion of the outseam.

12. An outsole shoe sewing machine hav ing, in combination, a work support and a presser foot arranged. to receive between them the projecting edge of the sole of a shoe, lock stitch sewing mechanism constructed and arranged to sew the outseam of said shoe, a thread holder on the presser foot, and means for automatically actuating the holder at the completion of the outseam to engage and hold the locking thread.

13. An outsole shoe sewing machine having, in combination, a work support and a presser foot arranged to receive between them the projecting edge of the sole of shoe, lock stitch sewing mechanism constructed and ar-.

ranged to sew the outseam of said shoe, spaced plates on the presser foot and on the work sup-port, and thread cutting and holding fingers mounted to swing and slide on the presser foot and work support respectively to pass between said plates to sever and grip the needle and locking threads.

14. A sewing machine having,in combination. stitch forming mechanism, a thread holder, mechanism for automatically actuatin the holder upon stopping the machine to hold the thread, and means for manually operating the thread holder before starting the machine.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

BERNARD T. LEVEQUEQ 

